UK’s largest steelmaker Tata Steel will help the government to train or re-train employees to meet the demands of a new decarbonised industrial landscape under the newly announced Green Jobs Taskforce.

The company will assist the government in drawing up plans which would see employees, many of whom are currently in high-emission industries, retrained as businesses accelerate towards meeting net-zero targets.

The taskforce led by energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng MP and skills minister Gillian Keegan MP is expected to work through until Spring 2021.

It will produce actionable plans and policy recommendations for government to support delivery of the skills needed, and the opportunities that can be created, by a greener industrial future.

“Preparing for a CO2 neutral future is about more than just investing in new technology – it is about ensuring all employees have the skills they need now to create the change we all need. “We, like many other companies, already have a highly-skilled workforce who – with the right support – will be able to ensure the UK decarbonises at pace,” said Tor Farquhar, executive director of human resources and the company’s representative on the taskforce.

“It is important that as we make this transition we take our employees and their trade union representatives with us”

Roy Rickhuss, chair of the national trade union steel coordinating committee and general secretary of community, said: “We welcome the Green Jobs Taskforce and are pleased the steel industry will be represented in this important initiative to help the workforce adapt to a low carbon future.  Any green strategy for industry must mean an increase in high-quality employment opportunities and contribute to levelling up by supporting industrial communities across the UK.

“Our steelworkers are already highly-skilled and are the best there is. Government, employers and unions must work together to develop a framework of support that will ensure we can make green and world-leading steels for generations to come.”